8. Long-Term Battle (3)

The middle-aged man sobbed while the housewife stared vacantly.

Neither spoke to me directly.

Their entire bodies screamed silent pleas for help.

Sigh…

The college student next door hanged herself. What about upstairs?

Climbed to the second floor.

The door stood open.

Rotting corpse stench hit me immediately.

Scowling, I surveyed the room – an elderly man’s corpse in one corner, a small bedroom door smashed in.

Just feet visible – probably the grandson they mentioned.

Early twenties?

Must have put up a fight.

Those 40-50 year old gangster fucks probably took turns between the master bedroom and the college girl’s room downstairs.

…Got the picture.

Returned downstairs to find the man comforting his wife.

Even with his hand on her shoulder, she just swayed unresponsively.

…Leave her like this and she’ll kill herself too.

I exhaled heavily.

“Come with me. Let’s go.”

The man gaped at me.

“T-teacher?”

“Fuck ‘teacher’, just move. You can’t live here. Come on.”

Fucking frustrating.

Wonder if other houses are this bad.

…Yeah, probably worse.

Some families missing fathers who went out, mothers who never returned.

Those left either wasting away or ending up like this.

…Makes our boarding house seem downright cheerful.

The man started gathering belongings – clothes, bankbooks – until I stopped him.

The fuck you doing?

“Just come. Nothing else. Don’t even need blankets. Move.”

“Y-yes teacher. Honey, let’s go.”

As he helped his wife up, I added:

“Where’s the axe? Bring it.”

“Ah, yes, teacher.”

He emerged from the kitchen with the axe in one hand, supporting his wife with the other.

…Fucking hell.

“Let’s go.”

Brought them back to the boarding house.

The girls were shocked.

Obviously.

Five mouths to feed already, now three more with the baby.

The women seemed sympathetic seeing the infant, but Halmae looked displeased.

“I’ll work hard. Please just take us in, landlady,” the large man begged.

Fuck’s sake.

“Hey. You strong?”

Couldn’t expect combat skills, but his build suggested decent strength.

He straightened up.

“Yes, teacher. Delivered water bottles for living. Got some strength.”

…A porter then.

I kill, he carries. Found some fucking use for him.

Wish he could fight, but with his personality? No chance.

Halmae still looked sour.

“Landlady. Extra man would help. Got a free room downstairs? Give it to them.”

“…Tch. Fine. Since you’re asking.”

Suhyeon, Ye-eun and So-eun led the mother and baby downstairs.

“Come unnie. I’ll bring blankets.”

“No closet anymore, but hot water works fine.”

I told Halmae casually:

“Going out again.”

“Tch. Fine. Be careful.”

Stopped the man on the stairs.

“Listen.”

“Y-yes teacher.”

“Stop with ‘teacher’. I’m Seonghun. Han Seonghun.”

“Ah… yes, Seonghun-ssi.”

Ugh.

Dude stinks.

“Go wash up. Need clothes? The short girl with glasses – Suhyeon. Tell her I said to give you medicine. Clothing store’s safe. Pharmacy too. Get what you need.”

He stared in shock.

“…Empty?”

I nodded.

“I cleared them. Just take what you want. Watch the streets. Got it?”

“Ah… yes, teacher.”

…Fucking “teacher” again.

Never getting used to this.

Added as I left:

“If you’ve time, loot the supermarket where those gangsters died. Bring food back.”

“Yes, understood.”

He followed me out, asking:

“T-teacher. Where are you going?”

…Hmm.

How to phrase this.

Next target: mid-sized mart.

“Need diapers, right? Getting some.”

More accurately: level grinding.

His eyes widened as he stepped closer.

Don’t. You stink.

“T-teacher. I’ll come too.”

…God damn it…

That mart.

At least twenty zombies inside.

This guy would be dead meat in a horde.

Don’t care if he dies, but then what about his wife and kid?

Just more fucking mouths to feed.

Halmae and the girls would love that.

I glared.

“…You’ll die there.”

He flinched.

“…Understood? Just go where I said. Convenience store. Clothing shop. Pharmacy. Supermarket. All safe. Take the axe.”

Earn your keep.

“…Yes, teacher.”

…Fuck’s sake.

“Good enough. See you.”

“T-teacher!”

…Loud bastard.

Turned to see him bowing deeply.

“Thank you teacher! Thank you for helping us!”

…This guy…

…No growling sounds outside at least.

Small mercies.

…Fucking infuriating…

“…Keep it down.”

He looked chastened.

…So frustrating.

Headed toward the supermarket with dead gangsters.

Fuck.

Thought his size might make him useful as meat shield, but seems he’s only good for hauling loot.

Let him handle supplies while I focus on leveling.

The mart stood one block past the supermarket, right off a main road.

Could’ve gone via pharmacy district but too many shops to clear.

This route’s faster.

The residential street was quiet.

Occasional growls from houses but nothing emerging outside.

No reason to waste Acceleration on non-essentials.

The street opened into a parking lot.

Decently sized.

Must be the mart’s.

The warehouse-style single-story building looked decent.

Grrrr- Grrrr-

…Distant growling. Lots of them.

Paused to survey the lot.

…Seems quiet out here.

Need cover after assaulting the mart and using Acceleration.

Crouched, hand on sword, I crept into the lot.

Gravel crunched underfoot.

The parking area…

Some cars scattered about but no good hiding spots.

The attendant’s office?

Tiny structure – outdoor toilet sized.

Metal door, small window.

…Not bad.

Checked around before listening at the door.

…Silent.

Empty?

Tried the handle – locked.

Fuck.

Sighed and moved cautiously through the lot.

Gravel louder than expected.

Crunch- Crunch-

Pressed against the office wall, breathing slowly, I advanced until seeing deeper into the lot.

A figure in uniform stood between cars.

…Parking attendant.

The fuck’s he doing…

…Ah, must have been bitten while directing traffic.

…Means Biters might be nearby.

Concentrating, I moved along the opposite wall.

Slow steps.

Minimal noise.

Crunch- Crunch-

Reached the left wall.

Could see inside a black Accent’s headlight casing.

Nothing there.

Crept toward the Accent while drawing my sword.

Shhhk-

The attendant hadn’t noticed.

Reached the car and checked gaps between vehicles.

Need caution.

Anything could lurk between cars.

Different from open streets.

Moved slowly between vehicles, scanning each parking row.

Mostly empty.

Just the attendant and one collapsed figure ahead.

Two total.

Returned to approach the attendant from behind.

Perfect line to his back.

Just walk straight in.

“Huu…”

Crunch- Crunch-

…Five meters out.

The attendant swayed slightly.

…Could stab him now.

…No.

Play it safe.

No greed.

Acceleration.

[Auto-cast: Acceleration]

“Hup!”

Two bounding steps – stabbed through his occipital bone.

Crunch!

Blade sank halfway through his skull.

“Hrk!”

Yanked it free, stepped past him and lunged further.

Whoo–aa–

A woman.

Fallen forward.

Slashed downward hard.

Thwack!

“Graah?!”

Crunch!

As she twitched,

As Acceleration ended,

The blade pierced her skull.

Thump!

The attendant collapsed onto her as he hit my shoulder.

“Huu, haa.”

[Level increased by 2]

…One Acceleration spent.

Searched the attendant’s body for keys.

Unlocked the office – reeked of stale sweat inside.

Goddamn it.

Sick of all these fucking smells assaulting me.

But structurally solid.

Good fallback point.

Right by the mart too – decent for holding out.

Sat in the chair by the small window and exhaled.

“Huu.”

…No telling how many inside the mart.

Definitely lots by the sound.

This’ll be a war of attrition.

Wiped my blade with a wall-hung towel, thinking.

Hit and run.

Recover Acceleration, hit again.